Clothes prop



Dec. '30, 1930. H. B. GRINER 1,786,533

CLOTHES PROP Filed Sept. 6. 1929 [Z Z (5 1/ {A IIIIIWIHTIIW E //v v50 70% Mf W 5. am fi a. new BY WTTTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 30, 1930 UNETED STATES HARRY B. GBINER, F MERCHANTVILIJE, NEW JERSEY GLOTHES PROP Application filed September 6, 1929. Serial No. 390,678.

The leading object of the present invention is to provide a conventional clothes-prop having at its top a novel attachment calculated to prevent accidental detachment of the clothes-prop with respect to the clothes-line,

and which attachment is of simple and inexpensive construction so as not to add materially to the cost of clothes-prop manufacture.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an attachment of the character stated which is formed from a single blank stamped from thin sheet metal to readily lend itself to application to the V-shaped top of a conventional wooden clothesprop.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel attachment of the character stated in which the clothes-line engaging parts comprise spring tongues supported in the V-shaped part of a conventional clothes-prop by means of an inverted substantially U-shaped member fixed to and engaging around the clothes-prop top.

Other and further objects of the present invention reside in the provision of general details of construction, and in the arrange. ment, combination, and connection of parts for attaining the results sought by the foregoing objects.

The invention consists of the novel construction hereinafter described and finally claimed.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention I have shown in the accompanying drawings one form thereof whichis atpresent-preferred by me, since the same has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my inven- 40 tion consists can be variously arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of the instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

The nature, characteristic features and scope of the invention will be more fully understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, and in which:

F igi 1, is a view in elevation of a clothesprop embodying the invention.

Fig. 1A is a fragmentary view of the upper end of the clothes-prop with the parts shown in Fig. 1 removed. I

'Fig. 2, isa view in side elevation of Fig. 1. Fig. 3,-is'a view in end elevation of the attachment shown in Figs. 1 and 2 removed.

Fig. 4, is a'view of a blank prior to being sFhap'ed into the configuration shown best in 1g.4.

Referring nowto the drawings in detail, and with especial, reference to Fig. 5 the reference numeral'10designates a blank of thin sheet metal and of generalcruciform configuration. A blank of this character I form into the clothes-prop attachment best seen in Fig. 4, in which there is disclosed a substantially inverted U-shaped clothes-prop engaging portion superimposed upon which is a substantially V-shaped clothes line engaging part. The clothes-prop engaging portion comprises the pendant legs 11-1l, each of which is apertured at 12 and is chamfered as at 1 3 the latter portion servingto present 75 a good appearance and the 'aperturesfservingto" provide means to receive nails 14 or the like to secure the attachment within'the V-shaped opening 15 in the clothes-prop 16. The clothes line engaging portion comprises the substantially V-shaped tongues l7,17 which are bent upwardly in a substantially right angular mannenwith respect to the pendant parts 11-11. However, while the parts 11 11 are fiat to engage overthe outer face'of a clothes-prop, the tongues 17- 17 are first bent inwardly to form a neck and then are outwardly flared, thereby providing'an eificient attachment to receive a clothes line 18. Thejuncture of the pendant parts 1111 and the tongues lei-14 comprises a horizontally disposed plate 19 arranged to seat within the V-shaped portion 15of' a clothes-prop so that the flat or horizontal portion of the attachment wedges within the as Vshaped socket of a clothes-prop and when the attachment is secured in place a simple, efiicient, cheap, and snug arrangement of parts is secured.

In the actual practice of my invention I prefer to provide the blank seen in Figure 5 with the cuts 20 which form continuations of the sides of the tongues 17. By this construction it will be apparent that when the blank seen in Figure 5 is bent to form the structure best seen in Figs. 3 and 4 there will be shoulders formed at the point '21 which are within the outer edges of the pendant parallel legs 11. The V-shaped notches 15 in the clothes prop 16 are usually of approximately one standard size so that when the device seen in Figs. 3 and 4 is positioned in the V-shaped notch 15 the parts will assume the position seen in Fig. 1, with the shoulders 21 positioned below the top of the walls of the notches 15 thereby ensuring an exact and accurate fit of the device within the V-shaped Walls 15 as is evident.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that my invention particularly as embodied in Figures 3 and 4' results in a very novel and useful appliance which can be readily manufactured and retailed in chain stores and the like at a moderate expense and it can be readily applied by each individual purchaser to any existing clothes prop of the general construction seen in Figure 1A.

It will be further apparent that the purchaser of the device seen in Figures 3 and 4 can readily apply it to any existing clothes prop by means of screws or nails passing through holes 12, the device being readily installed in place by a woman or a child as is evident.

I am aware that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereo and I therefore desire the present embodiment to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claim rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the sec e of the invention. 7

aving thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

As an improved article of manufacture, a clothes prop having a V-shaped opening in the upper end thereof, and an attachment to fit over said upper end and comprising pendent portions secured over the sides of said upper end, a horizontal plate and a pair of spring tongues extended upwardly from opposite edges of said plate and adapted to receive a clothes line, said horizontal plate being adapted to fit snugly within said V-shaped opening, said tongues being directed first upwardly and inwardly to form a neck and then outwardly flared.

HARRY B. GRINER. 

